Positive effects of auditory cue in locomotor pattern of people with Parkinson's disease (off and on medication)

Gait disorders are identified in people with Parkinson’s disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of auditory cues and medication on kinematic, kinetic and EMG parameters, during different gait phases of people with PD and healthy elderly. Thirty subjects distributed in two groups (Group 1, PD patients off and on medication; Group 2, healthy elderly) participated in this study and were instructed to walk in two experimental conditions: non-cued and cued. Therefore, kinematic, kinetic and electromyography analyses were utilized to investigate the locomotor pattern. Changes in locomotor pattern (greater muscular activity) with auditory cue were observed for PD patients. Regarding the medication, locomotor parameter improvement was observed after levodopa intake in association with the auditory cue. These results confirm the hypothesis about the external cues therapy that could be used as a complement to drug therapy to achieve improvement in the locomotor pattern of PD patients.

The association of chlorhexidine digluconate and calcium chloride to use as vehicle of a silicate calcium-based cement

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the addition of 2% chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) associated with 5% calcium chloride (CaCl2 ) on antimicrobial activity, setting time, pH and calcium release of gray mineral trioxide aggregate (GMTA). Materials and Methods: GMTA powder was mixed with water, 2% CHX alone or 2% CHX combined with 5% CaCl2 . Antimicrobial activity was determined against Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212) strains by agar diffusion test. Data obtained were submitted to kruskal wallis tests. Analysis of the setting time was evaluated by American society for testing and materials C266-03 requirements. The pH and calcium release analysis were evaluated, in 24 h, 7, 14 and 28 days using pH meter equipment and atomic absorption spectrophotometer, respectively. Data obtained were analyzed by ANOVA, in 5% significance level. Results: Significant differences were seen (P < 0.01) among the zones of bacterial growth inhibition produced by 5% CaCl2 + 2% CHX combination against E. faecalis when compared with water (P < 0.05). Regarding the setting time, that combination had the shortest setting time (P < 0.05). All associations were alkaline and released calcium. No statistical difference was observed between the experimental groups at the different periods of analysis (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Combination of 5% CaCl2 + 2% CHX reduced the setting time and enhanced the antimicrobial activity of GMTA without changing the pH and calcium release.

Treatment of Dyslipidemia with Statins and Physical Exercises: Recent Findings of Skeletal Muscle Responses

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Treatment with vitamin D/MOG association suppresses experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Association of titanium mesh and bovine pericardium membrane in the treatment of severe enophthalmos

The blowout fractures may be classified as pure or impure depending on the associated structures. There are 2 main theories attempting to describe the mechanism of injury, the hydraulic, and blocking mechanism. The complications of this type of fracture may involve diplopia, enophthalmos, and ocular movement restriction. Several materials are available for the reconstruction of orbital floor, including the titanium mesh, which present great properties, such as easy modeling and stabilization, small thickness, and shape maintenance. There, however, are disadvantages such as the possibility of adherence formation. The aim of this report is to describe the case of a patient with an 8-month blowout fracture sequel, presenting extensive enophthalmos and treated by affixing a titanium mesh associated with bovine pericardium membrane in the orbital floor. Therefore, based on a 2-year follow-up, it was possible to observe how effective the association between these 2 materials in solving the case was.

Proximal caries lesion detection in primary teeth: does this justify the association of diagnostic methods?

The aim of this clinical study was to evaluate and compare the performance of visual exam with use of the Nyvad criteria (visual examination - (VE)), interproximal radiography (BW), laser fluorescence device (DIAGNOdent Pen-DDPen), and their association in the diagnosis of proximal lesions in primary teeth. For this purpose, 45 children (n = 59 surfaces) of both sexes, aged between 5 and 9 years were selected, who presented healthy primary molars or primary molars with signs suggestive of the presence of caries lesions. The surfaces were clinically evaluated and coded according to the Nyvad criteria and immediately afterwards with the DDPen. Radiographic exam was performed only on the surfaces coded with Nyvad scores 2, 3, 5, or 6. Active caries lesions and/or those with discontinuous surfaces were restored, considering the depth of lesion as reference standard. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under ROC curve were calculated for each technique and its associations. Visual exam with Nyvad criteria presented the highest specificity, accuracy, and area under ROC curve values. The DDPen presented the highest sensitivity values. Association with one or more methods resulted in an increase in specificity. The performance of visual, radiographic, and DDpen exams and their associations were good; however, the clinical examination with the Nyvad criteria was sufficient for the diagnosis of interproximal lesions in primary teeth.

Diagnostic accuracy of the EMG parameters associated with anterior knee pain in the diagnosis of patellofemoral pain syndrome

Objective To assess the diagnostic accuracy of the surface electromyography (sEMG) parameters associated with referred anterior knee pain in diagnosing patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Design Sensitivity and specificity analysis. Setting Physical rehabilitation center and laboratory of biomechanics and motor control. Participants Pain-free subjects (n=29) and participants with PFPS (n=22) selected by convenience. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure The diagnostic accuracy was calculated for sEMG parameters’ reliability, precision, and ability to differentiate participants with and without PFPS. The selected sEMG parameter associated with anterior knee pain was considered as an index test and was compared with the reference standard for the diagnosis of PFPS. Intraclass correlation coefficient, SEM, independent t tests, sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive likelihood ratios, and negative and positive predictive values were used for the statistical analysis. Results The medium-frequency band (B2) parameter was reliable (intraclass correlation coefficient=.80–.90), precise (SEM=2.71–3.87 normalized unit), and able to differentiate participants with and without PFPS (P<.05). The association of B2 with anterior knee pain showed positive diagnostic accuracy values (specificity, .87; sensitivity, .70; negative likelihood ratio, .33; positive likelihood ratio, 5.63; negative predictive value, .72; and positive predictive value, .86). Conclusions The results provide evidence to support the use of EMG signals (B2 – frequency band of 45–96Hz) of the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis muscles with referred anterior knee pain in the diagnosis of PFPS.

Spontaneous remission of primary hyperparathyroidism in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1: case report

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant multisystem disorder affecting approximately 1 in 3500 individuals. Patients with the disorder can develop carcinoid tumors, medullary thyroid carcinoma, pheochromocytoma and tumor of the hypothalamus. The association of NF1 with Primary Hyperparathyroidism (HPP) is very rare. We report a 56-year-old woman with NF1 who was referred to our service because of nephrolithiasis. Physical examination revealed the characteristic signs of NF1, and her laboratory calcium profile was compatible with HPP. The patient was referred for parathyroidectomy, but during the surgical work-up she underwent spontaneous remission of her HPP. This case is significant not only for the rarity of this presentation in NF1 patients, but also because of the spontaneous remission of HPP.

Association of fat intake and socioeconomic status on anthropometric measurements of adults

We aimed to identify the influence of dietary fat profile on body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in a middleclass general population sample. A cross-sectional study of 448 adults aged 35-85 years was carried out from January 2004 to December 2007. Patients were divided in two groups according to family income: Group 1 (G1) with higher income, and Group 2 (G2) with lower income. Demographic and socioeconomic status were identified, along with anthropometric data, health eating index (HEI) and dietary profile. The groups were similar with respect to gender, age, BMI and WC. HEI was higher in G1 due to a higher intake of protein (+12.8%), dairy products (p<0.001), higher intake of vegetables (p<0.01), fruit (p<0.001), and less dietary fat (-9.8%). The main contribution of fats was saturated fat for G1 (+5.0%) and polyunsaturated fat for G2 (+14.4%). Besides differences in socioeconomic status the groups had similar BMI and abdominal fatness. Only differences in fat profile were correlated with the anthropometric measures mostly explained by the lower vegetable oil intake in higher income participants.

Association of student position in classroom and school performance

We analyzed whether the position of students in classroom is correlated with academic performance, and which factors might be involved. The sample consisted of 16 classrooms in a school year bimester, each one with around 30 students. Each student's position was registered in classroom maps and the reasons for the students' seat choice were gathered by a questionnaire. School performance and classroom absences of each student were collected directly from the teachers' register notebook. We found that better performances of students at school correlate with lower percentages of absence and choices of seating positions closer to the board. Moreover, the main reason to sit in a front position was motivation for learning. We suggest that school performance is associated to students’ position in the classroom because both are affected by the student motivation for learning. As a consequence, changing students' position in the classroom without increasing their motivation is not likely to improve school performance.

Estimating the extent of spatial association of Mycobacterium bovis infection in badgers in Ireland

Mycobacterium bovis infects the wildlife species badgers Meles meles who are linked with the spread of the associated disease tuberculosis (TB) in cattle. Control of livestock infections depends in part on the spatial and social structure of the wildlife host. Here we describe spatial association of M. bovis infection in a badger population using data from the first year of the Four Area Project in Ireland. Using second-order intensity functions, we show there is strong evidence of clustering of TB cases in each the four areas, i.e. a global tendency for infected cases to occur near other infected cases. Using estimated intensity functions, we identify locations where particular strains of TB cluster. Generalized linear geostatistical models are used to assess the practical range at which spatial correlation occurs and is found to exceed 6 in all areas. The study is of relevance concerning the scale of localized badger culling in the control of the disease in cattle.

Association of American State Geologists 95th annual meeting

What a great pleasure to welcome you to the 95th annual meeting of the Association of American State Geologists. I truly hope you enjoy your stay the next few days here in Lincoln, our state's capitol and Nebraska's second-largest city. Mark mentioned that I'm from Texas. My family started there, our first family home in the United States, when my maternal great-grandfather immigrated to this country from Germany, to escape military conscription -- just as the Civil War broke out here. With remarkably bad timing, he landed at the port of Galveston just in time to be rounded up and sworn, under gunpoint, into the Confederacy.

Nebraska Association of County Extension Board Annual Meeting

Thank you for inviting me to be here today. I truly appreciate this opportunity to visit with you. I've been asked to tell you about some of the recent successes of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, to talk about opportunities for the Institute in Nebraska's future, and to talk, also, about extension's role in that.

Improved Regression Estimation of a Multivariate Relationship with Population Data on the Bivariate Relationship

Regression coefficients specify the partial effect of a regressor on the dependent variable. Sometimes the bivariate or limited multivariate relationship of that regressor variable with the dependent variable is known from population-level data. We show here that such population- level data can be used to reduce variance and bias about estimates of those regression coefficients from sample survey data. The method of constrained MLE is used to achieve these improvements. Its statistical properties are first described. The method constrains the weighted sum of all the covariate-specific associations (partial effects) of the regressors on the dependent variable to equal the overall association of one or more regressors, where the latter is known exactly from the population data. We refer to those regressors whose bivariate or limited multivariate relationships with the dependent variable are constrained by population data as being ‘‘directly constrained.’’ Our study investigates the improvements in the estimation of directly constrained variables as well as the improvements in the estimation of other regressor variables that may be correlated with the directly constrained variables, and thus ‘‘indirectly constrained’’ by the population data. The example application is to the marital fertility of black versus white women. The difference between white and black women’s rates of marital fertility, available from population-level data, gives the overall association of race with fertility. We show that the constrained MLE technique both provides a far more powerful statistical test of the partial effect of being black and purges the test of a bias that would otherwise distort the estimated magnitude of this effect. We find only trivial reductions, however, in the standard errors of the parameters for indirectly constrained regressors.

Prevalence of adults with type 1 diabetes who meet the goals of care in daily clinical practice: A nationwide multicenter study in Brazil

Objective: To determine the prevalence of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus who meet the glycemic and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors goals and the frequency of screening for diabetic complications in Brazil according to the American Diabetes Association guidelines. Research design and methods: This was a cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted between December 2008 and December 2010 in 28 public clinics in 20 Brazilian cities. Data were obtained from 1774 adult patients (56.8% females, 57.2% Caucasians) aged 30.3 +/- 9.8 years with diabetes duration of 14.3 +/- 8.8 years. Results: Systolic blood pressure was at goal in 40.3% and diastolic blood pressure was at goal in 26.6% of hypertensive patients. LDL cholesterol and HbA1c were at the goal in 45.2% and 13.2% of the patients, respectively. Overweight was presented in 25.6% and obesity in 6.9%. Among those with more than 5 years of disease, screening for retinopathy was performed in the preceding year in 70.1%. Nephropathy and feet complications were screened in 63.1% and 65.1%, respectively. Conclusions: The majority of patients did not meet metabolic control goals and a substantial proportion was not screened for diabetic complications. These issues may increase the risk of chronic complications and negatively impact public health. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.